Health Matters
You are here: Skip Navigation LinksHome > Health Matters
Health Matters 
 
Find a hospital:
Find a doctor:
Search using one or more criteria.
Your health

Here you can read up about a medical condition, find a doctor with a specific specialisation or a hospital in your vicinity. 
Pregnancy diet
Last updated: Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Here's what you should and shouldn't eat during your pregnancy.

1. Eat a balanced diet
The most basic thing you can do to ensure that you have a successful pregnancy is to ensure that your diet is balanced. A well-balanced diet should include the following foods:

 

  • Fresh fruit and vegetables, especially dark green and yellow ones, to boost beta-carotene or vitamin A intake and those that are good sources of vitamin C
    Examples:
    Vitamin A or beta-carotene: carrots, pumpkin, sweet potato, butternut, broccoli, yellow peaches, paw-paw, and mangoes Vitamin C: oranges, grapefruit, naartjies, lemons, guavas, strawberries, kiwi fruit, paw-paw, mangoes, the cabbage family, sweet green peppers
  • Unprocessed bread, cereals and grains to ensure that you get sufficient B-vitamins and dietary fibre to keep you regular
    Examples: high-fibre breakfast cereals, brown or wholewheat bread and rolls, maize meal or oats porridge, brown rice, pasta
  • Milk and dairy products to provide you with the large amount of calcium you need to build the baby’s bones and teeth, plus protein and riboflavin
    Examples: whole or low-fat or skimmed milk, yoghurt, cottage cheese, other cheeses and maas (South African sour milk beverage) - use the low-fat varieties if you are scared of gaining weight
  • Lean meat, poultry, fish and eggs to provide body-building protein, iron and vitamin B12 for a healthy blood supply and essential fatty acids (found in fish and omega-3 enriched eggs)
  • Fats and oils for energy and essential fatty acids - use sparingly if you are trying to control weight gain, and remember that soft tub margarines, which are rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, and olive oil which is one of the richest sources of monounsaturated fatty acids, are your best options

 2. Eat regular meals
Eating regul ... Read more



 

Back to the top

 

Conditions and Diseases
A to Z list of conditions and diseases.
Symptoms
Find out what could be the cause of your symptoms.
Firstaid
Useful firstaid information.